Jumped by Colette Auclair

mood because she said, without bite, “Okay, fine.”
    Finn had to acknowledge Bethany’s decency at breakfast. After a few minutes, awkward though it was going to be, he forged into the silence in the car. “Thank you for covering for me back there.”
    â€œNo need to thank me. I almost blew it.”
    â€œWhatever, I appreciate you not ratting me out.”
    â€œYour life would be easier if you’d just learn to ride a stupid bike.”
    â€œIt doesn’t come up very often now that I have a driver’s license.”
    â€œYou could get a motorcycle. That would improve your studly reputation.”
    â€œI’m too studly as it is.”
    She laughed. “If anyone doubts it, they can ask Kristen, right? What happens when wife number two has her heart set on a bike tour through Europe for the honeymoon?”
    Something zapped his chest when she said “wife number two.” It didn’t last long—it was like being struck by a spark while welding—but he noticed it. “I’m not real worried about that.”
    â€œMaybe you should be. Not everyone is as forgiving as me. Other women will demand that you ride a bike. It’s a known deal breaker.”
    He knew she was teasing, but hearing Bethany talk about his romantic future made his bones itch. “Still not worried about it,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road like a novice driver.
    â€œThink about it. You’re alienating a whole segment of the eligible female population. Not smart, especially since you’re not getting any younger and your prospects are dwindling.”
    A current of electricity roared through him, so much so that if Bethany were a man, Finn would be curbing an urge to punch him. “Would you drop it already?” he said through gritted teeth and too loudly.
    In his peripheral vision, he saw Bethany turn to look at him. “Lighten up, Finn. Sorry I offended your delicate sensibilities. Geez.”
    He sighed and squeezed the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles whitened. “Sorry.” He didn’t trust himself to say anything else. He had to stop letting everything she said get to him like some kind of annoying rash. They drove without speaking. Bethany checked her phone, and Finn wondered if she was only using it as a prop to avoid talking to him. Whatever the case, one thing was being hammered home during this wedding weekend: he wasn’t over his ex-wife.

5

    B ethany was eager to start the bike ride purely to escape Finn’s grumpiness. The good mood they’d shared the night before had evaporated like so many champagne bubbles. In some ways she enjoyed poking this particular bear with a stick, but in the grand scheme of things, it probably wasn’t good for her soul. She thought he’d drop her at the bike shop and leave, but for whatever reason, he got out. She politely thanked him for the lift, then got her bike, which took ten minutes. She was the first to get there, so she had to wait for the rest of the crew. She stood beside her mountain bike and studied the trail map without seeing a single trail.
    â€œDid you use sunscreen?”
    It was Finn. Of course.
    He was next to her and she looked at him. “Yep. All taken care of, Mom.”
    His mouth twitched. “Backs of your hands? Remember, you’re not wearing riding gloves.” He squeezed sunscreen from a tube onto his fingertips.
    â€œYes. Done.” Although she probably hadn’t been exactly thorough, she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of being right. Her hands would survive, even in the strong mountain sun.
    He stood facing her. “Bet you didn’t get your ears. You always forget your ears.”
    He was right. And boy, he must really feel bad about snapping at her in the car—it was the only logical reason he was being so solicitous. “They’ll be fine.” She started reaching for the sunscreen in her backpack on the